The most common method by which children are tested for tuberculosis is called Mantoux. First of all, Mantoux refers to primary measures for the prevention of tuberculosis. Based on this immunological test, the presence or absence of tuberculosis infection in the child's body is determined.
The test is carried out by introducing a special drug - tuberculin, which is an allergen that can cause a reaction in patients. Tuberculin consists of a mixture of filtrates of microbial cultures that died during pre-heating and are harmless in nature. In the place of the injection, known under the simplified name “button”, the skin begins to redden. Skin redness is caused by specific inflammation caused by lymphocyte infiltration. The degree of redness will depend on whether mycobacterium tuberculosis was already in the body or not. If there are more lymphocytes, and redness becomes bright, but there is a positive Mantoux reaction in children.
However, the mere presence of a stick in the body does not mean that the child is sick with tuberculosis. It is possible that a positive Mantoux test in children is only a consequence of the BCG vaccine made earlier. This vaccine leaves a tubercle bacillus in the children's body, which can cause a positive response when interacting with tuberculin.
The Mantoux reaction in children is checked annually, starting from the moment the baby reaches one year of age. Tuberculin is injected under the skin of a child with a small disposable syringe with a thin needle. It is necessary to observe safety measures during the immunological test - the injection is performed by a professional nurse with the appropriate permission to vaccinate, only high-quality tuberculin in a strictly defined dose can be used as a reagent.
The Mantoux test in children is carried out in medical institutions - clinics and hospitals, as well as in kindergartens and schools. If you follow all the rules established by the healthcare of the Russian Federation, then the procedure itself is quite safe, the disease cannot develop due to a correctly performed Mantoux test.
After 72 hours, the condition and size of the “button” are checked, the Mantoux reaction in children is checked. The temperature does not rise, and the baby does not suffer. The sample and the size of the “buttons” are determined precisely after 72 hours.
Mantoux does not give any particular disturbing symptoms . The norm in children varies in size from 0 to 1 mm, while the papule is absent.
However, in some cases, the Mantoux test is positive. In this case, the size of the “button” increases to 5 mm or more. Variations of sizes between these limit boundaries (from 2 to 4 mm) make the sample doubtful.
Tendency to allergies, recent infectious diseases, various pathologies, overly sensitive skin can affect the result of the Mantoux test. Children under one year of age do not do such a test precisely because of a weak and insufficiently developed immunity, which can lead to inaccurate results.
After the injection with tuberculin is administered, the injection site cannot be soaked for three days, it cannot be smeared with greens or a band-aid, and it cannot be scratched - all these actions will also provoke an incorrect result. To get the correct picture, parents should carefully monitor the child, the dryness of the “button” place, and if there is an ulcer after the Mantoux test, the wound can be processed only after evaluating the test by a specialist doctor.
Thus, a positive reaction to the Mantoux test does not always lead to the recognition of a child as infected with tuberculosis.